Predictively responding to SNMP commands

An apparatus for predictively responding to a network management data request, the apparatus comprising:

• a storage memory adapted to define and store in advance at least one pattern of request, the pattern of request including one or more expected network management data requests;
• a cache memory adapted to store prefetched network management data;
• a request classifier configured to determine if a first network management data request matches a pattern defined in the storage memory and further configured to determine if data responsive to the first network management data request is contained in the cache memory if the first network management data request matches a pattern defined in the memory;
• a sender coupled to the request classifier configured to send a response including the data responsive to the first network management data request, if the data responsive to the first network management data request is contained in the cache memory and if the network management data request matches a pattern defined in the storage memory;
• a lookahead processor coupled to the request classifier configured to collect, if the first network management data request matches a pattern defined in the storage memory, data responsive to any remaining network management data requests in the matched pattern, wherein the pattern further comprises a periodicity of the network management data requests contained in the pattern, and wherein the network management data request is a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) request;
• and
• wherein the lookahead processor is further configured to initiate periodic data collections for data responsive to the network management data requests in the pattern, if the first network management data request matches a pattern defined in the memory, but data responsive to the first network management data request is not contained in the cache.

An apparatus for predictively responding to network management data requests, the apparatus comprising:

• a storage memory adapted to define and store in advance a pattern of request, the pattern including one or more expected network management data requests;
• a cache memory adapted to store prefetched network management data;
• means for determining if a first network management data request contains a pattern defined in the storage memory;
• means for determining if data responsive to the first network management data request is contained in the cache memory if the first network management data request contains a pattern defined in the storage memory;
• means for sending a response including data responsive to the first network management data request, if the data responsive to the first network management data request is contained in the cache memory and if the network management data request matches a pattern defined in the storage memory;
• means for collecting, if the first network management data request matches a pattern defined in the storage memory, data responsive to any remaining network management data requests in the matched pattern, wherein the pattern further comprises a periodicity of the network management data requests contained in the pattern, and wherein the network management data request is a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) request;
• and
• means for initiating periodic data collections for data responsive to network management data requests in the pattern, if the first network management data request matches a pattern defined in the storage memory, but data responsive to the first network management data request is not contained in the cache memory.

A program storage device, readable by a machine, embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for predictively responding to a network management data request, the method comprising:

• receiving a first network management data request;
• determining if the first network management data request matches a pattern of request defined and stored in advance in a memory, the pattern including one or more expected management data requests;
• determining if data responsive to the first network management data request is contained in a cache of prefetched network management data if the first network management data request matches a pattern defined in the memory;
• sending a response including the data responsive to the first network management data request, if the data responsive to the first network management data request is contained in the cache and if the first network management data request matches a pattern defined in the memory;
• collecting, if the first network management data request matches a pattern defined in the memory, data responsive to any remaining network management data requests in the matched pattern, wherein the pattern further comprises a periodicity of the network management data requests contained in the pattern, and wherein the network management data request is a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) request;
• and
• if the first network management data request matches a pattern defined in the memory, but data responsive to the first network management data request is not contained in the cache, initiating periodic data collections for data responsive to network management data requests in the pattern.